effects of child abuse

Child abuse can give some negative effects to the children, family, society and country. Firstly, effect to the children are lack of trust and relationship difficulties. Usually, the children will face some situations where it is very difficult to learn to trust other peoples or know who is trustworthy in their life. Then, children also may act in a variety of ways when with the abusive parent. Some of them, will show an expression like fear, cry, low self-esteem, others are wary, while others may appear indifferent. They may also show their distress more generally in a variety of ways, such as indiscriminate attachment, anxiety and low self-confidence.
         Then, effect to the family is to make them feel anxiety and agitation when they meet their child's need for attachment to them. Beside that, the relation between parents and their child are disturbed, and no more love in that family. Sometimes, the children also never have some respect to their parents because of the abuse that they have done.
          The society also may have some effects because of the child abuse. Social problems in a society will increase such as run away from their home, free sex, baby dumping and others. The children who lack  attention from their parents, will find the freedom and try to do something that will destroy themselves. Beside that, lack of moral value in our society. Love, care and attention showed be encourage in our society.
          Lastly,the effect to the country are will cause bad image and the development of the country will be at risk because the good and excellent generation to monitor our country can't be found.

types of child abuse

There are several types of child abuse which include emotional child abuse, physical child abuse, sexual abuse, and child neglect. But the core element is the emotional effect on child. Children need predictability, structure, clear, boundaries, and the knowledge that their parents are looking out for their safety. Abused children cannot predict how their parents will act. Their world is unpredictable, frightening place with no rules. Whether the abuse is slap, a harsh comment, stony silence, or not knowing if there will be dinner on the table tonight, the end result is a child that feel unsafe, uncared, and alone.

1. Emotional child abuse

Sticks and stone may break my bones but words will never hurt me? Contrary to this old saying, emotional abuse can severely damage a child’s mental health or social development, leaving psychological scars. Example of emotional child abuse include: 

• Constant belittling, shaming, and humiliating a child 
• Calling names and making negative comparison to others 
• Frequent yelling, threating or bullying 
• Ignoring or rejecting a child as punishment, giving him or her the silent treatment 
• Limited physical contact with the child (no hugs, kisses, or other signs of affection). 
• Exposing the child to violence or the abuse of others, whether it be the abuse of a parent, a sibling, or even a pet. 

2. Physical child abuse

Physical abuse is any non-accidental injury to a child under the age of 18 by a parent or caretaker. These injuries may include beatings, shaking, burns, human bites, strangulation, or immersion in scalding water or others, with resulting bruises and welts, fractures, scars, burns, internal injuries or any other injuries. 

3. Sexual abuse

Child sexual abuse is the exploitation of a child or adolescent for the sexual gratification of another person. 

Its important to recognize that sexual abuse doesn't always involve body contact. Exposing a child sexual situations or material is sexual abusive, whether or not touching is involved. 

Examples of sexual abuse physical indicators: 

• Difficulty walking or sitting 
• Torn or stained/blood underclothes 
• Bruises 
• Swelling in genital are 
• Frequent urinary or yeast infections 

4. Child neglect

Neglect refers to the failure of a parent to provide for the development of the child – include health, education, emotional development, nutrition, shelter and safe living conditions. 

Example of neglect: 

• consistent hunger 
• poor hygiene 
• inappropriate dress 
• unattended medical problems 
• underweight and failure to thrive

Example image of child abuse: 

historical of child abuse

A recent study funded by Parton (2005), about the history of child abuse. He said one of the causes is violence in the family. According to Parton, in the patriarchal family system, violence towards wives and children was seen as mainly a private matter, and even in the latter half of the twentieth century police were reluctant to get involved in violence within a marriage, classifying incidents as 'just a domestic'. As women and children have been seen as individuals with rights, their right to safety from violence has also been recognised.

        In other hands, Ferri, Bynner and Wadsworth (2003) also said about the historiy of child abuse which are caused by changing family structures. According to him, divorce and birth outside marriage can cause their children to be neglected without their birth parents. Between 1961 and 1999, has been shown that lone-parent households increased from two percent to seven percent of all household.

        Beside that, the history of child abuse are described in Children Act in 1948. This legislation set up child care department in local authorities and created the social work role of 'child care officer'. It was a part of the post-war creation of a welfare state and embodied a belief that the state should take a positive and supportive approach to the family to ensure children were given the appropriate conditions in which to develop by Parton (1991).

        Furthermore, Winnicots (1951) describes when parenting becomes abusive. He introduces a concept of the good enough parents offers a more realistic and achievable standard for parents to aspire to. Views on 'good enough' parenting vary over time and between cultures. Even within one culture at a specific time, families vary a great deal, at the micro level, in how they express affection, administer discipline or deal with anger. There can be major difficulties, in practise in agreeing on the boundary between what is acceptable and what is unacceptable.